12 Primary Practices of High Performance Teams

Use these 12 criteria for your teams to assess team practices. Research has shown that effective work teams have the following 12 practices in common.

1. Shared Vision Is Understood and Articulated
   The team understands and "buys into" the vision and mission (purpose) of the team. They are motivated by a sense of purpose and are bound by it.
2. Common Goals And Objectives Are Clear
   The team's goals and objectives are clearly stated and accepted by all members. Team members are clear on their roles. Assignments are plainly made and performed to the members' best ability.
3. Open Two-Way Communication Is Practiced
   Team members solicit feedback and use active listening techniques to increase
   understanding.
4. Mutual Trust And A Relaxed Climate Are Encouraged
   The atmosphere is comfortable and informal. There is no relationship tension created by team members. There is a high level of trust encouraged and exhibited throughout the team.
5. Constructive Conflict Resolution Techniques Are Used And Disagreement Is Accepted
   The team accepts disagreement as a way to discuss new ideas. They encourage debate to draw out issues.
6. Power Is Within The Team To Make Collaborative Decisions
   Everyone participates in discussion and actions. The team avoids formal voting and compromise. Agreement is reached through discussion and consensus.
7. A Sense Of Urgency And Energy Are Maintained
   Team Members have a high degree of desire and commitment to make things happen within a framework of using time effectively and watching out for burnout.
8. A High Level Of Individual Self Esteem Is Promoted
   Members are self-confident and feel comfortable expressing their ideas, issues, likes, and dislikes about tasks and relationships.
9. Leadership Is Shared
   Leadership functions shift from individual to individual depending on the situation, group needs, and members' expertise.
10. Diversity Is Valued
    Members understand individuals have unique contributions to make to the team whether they have analytic skills, processing skills, or people skills.
11. Effectiveness Is Assessed
    The team pays attention to process and content. The team consistently examines how well it is accomplishing tasks and how effectively it is building and maintaining relationships.
12. Fun And Celebration Is Scheduled, Frequent, And Noteworthy
    The team takes time from individual busy schedules to honor work efforts and successes of each member.

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